Meeting/Event Information

The program will be presented by David Houpt, PhD, Assistant Professor of History at University of North Carolina Wilmington.  Dr. Houpt’s topic is “The Regulator Movement and Land Rights in Colonial North Carolina.”  
Lunch will be ordered from Smithfield’s Chicken & Barbeque. Choice of Pork BBQ or Fried Chicken. BOA members should make their own hotel reservations.  April is a popular tourist time, and I suggest they make the reservations sooner rather than later. There are three hotels in Leland, close to the meeting location:
1.    Holiday Inn Express at 1020 Grandiflora Drive in Leland NC  28451. Phone: 910 383 3300
2.    Best Western Plus Westgate Inn and Suites at 1120 Towne Lake Drive in Leland, North Carolina 28451. Phone: 910 371 2858. Note:  There is construction in the adjacent Wal Mart shopping center and traffic is being detoured from Rt. 17 onto Towne Lake Drive.  There will be heavy congestion for drivers coming out of the hotel driveway onto Towne Lake and Rt. 17
3.    Tru by Hilton Leland at 1462 Olde Waterford Way in Leland, NC  28451. Phone: 910 523 5101

Nearby options for entertainment:

1. Battleship North Carolina. The USS North Carolina, a historic battleship from World War II, is now a museum in Wilmington, North Carolina, offering visitors a chance to explore its rich history and significance. April 18th is the Hidden Battleship event. There are also self-guided tours. Lots of information on the website: https://battleshipnc.com/programs-and-events/
2. Brunswick Town & Fort Anderson historic site. A major pre-Revolutionary port on North Carolina's Cape Fear River, Brunswick was razed by British troops in 1776 and never rebuilt. During the Civil War, Fort Anderson was constructed atop the old village site and served as part of the Cape Fear River defenses below Wilmington before the fall of the Confederacy. Colonial foundations dot the present-day tour trail, which crosses the earthworks of the Confederate fort. Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Website for more information: https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/brunswick-town-fort-anderson
3. Airlie Gardens. Airlie Gardens’ history dates back to the early 1700’s. The gardens you see today are the vision of Sarah and Pembroke Jones. The Jones purchased the property in 1884 and transformed it into a picturesque garden.  In 1999, a commitment from the New Hanover County Commissioners, along with a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the support of local residents, made possible this county’s purchase and restoration of Airlie’s 67-acres of gardens. There is a guided history tour on the 18th. More information on their website: https://airliegardens.org/